In pursuance to a string of recent attacks of at least three pro-democracy activists including Ekkachai Hongkangwan who was physically assaulted seven times and had his car set on fire twice since early 2018, and of late on 13 May 2019, Ekkachai was violently attacked in front of the Bangkok Criminal Court after attending a hearing on the case against activists who have protested to demand the election.

Since the release of the draft constitution, the junta has formally and informally suppressed criticism of the draft as well as the referendum, scheduled to be held on 7 August, itself. Although it is obvious that Thais are not going to vote in the referendum in a free and fair manner, a group of red-shirt activists are determined to defy the junta’s rule by campaigning against the draft charter. They share with Prachatai how to mobilize campaign under such repression and what they've found about voters' attitude toward draft charter and politics.